Ohio Turns to Hispanic Community to Develop Data Publication


By Houkje Ross


Closing the Gap, Supporting State Offices of Minority Health • September/October 2000


Hispanics are the second largest minority population in Ohio, Latinos came to Ohio, the types of jobs they currently and historically 

but in 1998 there were no statistical data reflective of the have held, and their countries of origin. 

needs of the community, said Cheryl Boyce, director of the “We wanted to personalize it and clear up the myth that all 

Ohio Commission on Minority Health. “This has been particularly Latinos in the state are from Mexico,” said Alejandro. Although Mexifrustrating for providers and consumers in Ohio,” added Boyce. cans comprise the largest group of Hispanics living in Ohio, Puerto 

So Boyce turned to the Hispanic commu- Ricans and Central and South Americans also 

nity to develop the much needed information. reside in the state. 

She armed herself with as many statistics as she “We wanted to personalize it The publication also includes informacould find from the National Council of La and clear up the myth that all tion on population growth; population in seRaza, the State Data Center and the Ohio Bu- lected counties; median age; educational atreau of Employment Service. And she hired Latinos in the state are from tainment; educational attainment by ethnic 

Lydia Alejandro—a well-respected member of Mexico.” group; types of jobs held; marriage status; methe community and current director of pre- dian income; poverty rates; and most prevavention services at Adelante Inc., a Substance lent diseases. 

Abuse Prevention Agency in Toledo—as her program consultant for There is also a one page narrative section on farm labor and four 

the project. “historical clips,” from individuals who have lived in Ohio for their 

Alejandro and an advisory committee of nine members from entire lives. 

Latino communities came together to develop a publication based on “We have really built a model for developing an information base 

the U.S. Census Bureau series, We the People. The committee con- with a community partnership,” Boyce added. “It created an apsisted of Hispanic professionals, including a marketing consultant, proach for the Commission to follow for integrating the talents of 

city council member, director of Hispanic social services agency, farm minority communities with federal and state government efforts to 

labor relations worker, and the president of a Hispanic Awareness close the gap in data needs.” 

Organization. For more information on the Ohio Commission initiative, contact: 

The publication includes an introduction on the history of how	 Cheryl Boyce, at the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, (614) 466­

4000. 

We...The Ohioans of Latino/Hispanic Heritage 

The excerpt below is from a publication produced by the Ohio Commission’s Minority Health. We... Ohioans of 

Latino/ Hispanic Heritage is a statistical report produced as part of the state partnership initiative, funded by the federal 

OMH in 1998. 

“We, the Latino Ohioans find that our birthplace in Ohio began with our fathers and grandfathers who came to this State 

for improved opportunities—the opportunity to work hard and earn a decent living to support our families as other immigrants 

have done in the past. 

“Some of our ancestors were recruited to Ohio from Mexico and Puerto Rico to build railroads in Toledo and Cleveland as early 

as the 1920s. For others, coming to Ohio meant steady employment in the steel mills, farm labor and auto industry. And in the 

past 15 to 20 years, many other Latinos have come to Ohio to begin or continue their professional careers as engineers, doctors, 

professors at universities, and other careers. 

“For whatever reason we have come to live in Ohio, Latinos have contributed significantly to enrich the economy of this 

State, not only through our agricultural labor or the auto or steel mill industries, but also in education, medicine, social services, 

sports, arts and culture, science, and the military.” 

Office of Minority Health Resource Center	 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services